https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/event/ppc-webinar-060425
Each year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the oceans, with an estimated 170 trillion microplastics now circulating within them. Half of all sea turtles have likely ingested plastic, and by 2050, nearly all seabirds may too.
In honor of World Oceans Day in June, we’ll host a timely conversation with leading scientists, advocates, and policy experts on the path to a strong United Nations Global Plastics Treaty, with a special focus on how the treaty may affect the world’s oceans. With the next negotiating round set for August in Geneva, Switzerland, and just ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, this webinar will explore what’s at stake in the treaty negotiations, the barriers to progress, and what world leaders must do to protect the oceans from plastics and other harms.
Joining the discussion will be: Christopher Chin, Founder and Executive Director, COARE; Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead, Greenpeace; and Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul. The webinar will be moderated by Kathryn Nelson, Plastic Free Mermaid.
Date: Wed., June 4
Time: 2-3 pm PT | 5-6 pm ET
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Panelists
Christopher Chin, Executive Director, Center for Oceanic Awareness Research and Education (Coare)
Christopher Chin (he/him) is a SCUBA Master Instructor whose passion for the ocean stems back to childhood. He is an accomplished underwater videographer and writer whose work has been featured on the Discovery Channel and Shark Week. In 2006, Christopher co-founded The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE), and he continues to serve as its Executive Director. Christopher is an internationally recognized expert in ocean policy and conservation issues, and has authored, supported, and defended a multitude of laws affecting ocean health and resources. Christopher is an avid advocate for environmental justice and co-authored the report “Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution,” published by UNEP in 2021. Christopher is an active participant in international fora and has addressed various bodies of the United Nations on a multitude of occasions, and is actively working towards a new global treaty to address plastic pollution.
Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead, Greenpeace
Graham Forbes (he/him) is the Head of Delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations at Greenpeace. He leads the organization’s global plastics campaign that aims to end plastic pollution and accelerate a just transition towards a zero-waste, climate-safe future. He has over 15 years of experience leading successful campaigns on environmental, labor, and social justice issues. Graham works with campaigners worldwide as the Greenpeace network’s Head of Delegation to the United Nations negotiations to secure a strong and ambitious Global Plastics Treaty.
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director, Azul
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš (she/her) is an award-winning global ocean justice leader committed to reimagining power, policy, and leadership in climate justice. She is the founder of Azul, an innovative movement and global network of Latinx leaders committed to galvanizing the climate justice field to boldly push for policies that serve the people. Marce’s work has reimagined environmental conservation policies to place care for people at the center and transformed justice-driven ocean policies locally and internationally. Her strategies have activated Latinos throughout the Americas to protect the ocean and coasts, from spearheading Azul’s strategic campaign instrumental in securing California’s statewide bans of single-use plastic bags to coordinating global coalitions to push for strong global plastics treaties.
Moderator
Kathryn Nelson, Plastic Free Mermaid
Kathryn Nelson (she/her) is a leading environmental activist and sustainability advocate with over two decades of experience focused on ocean conservation and plastic pollution. A pioneer in living completely plastic-free for over a decade, Kathryn has inspired millions to adopt zero waste lifestyles through her platform, advocacy, and book—I Quit Plastics: And You Can Too. As a trusted voice in the global movement to combat plastic pollution, she has worked on local beach cleanups to global impact campaigns to drive policy change and raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic waste. Her platform is dedicated to creating change at scale, with a focus on sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and society. Kathryn is committed to advancing a cleaner, more sustainable future for the planet and its oceans.
